When you need to get rid of old phones, electronics

Thomas R. Wells and Ken Haller, both St. Charles natives, started a mobile phone recycling business called eBlazeServices.com in 2008, which has since expanded worldwide and moved to Chicago last year.

They have two sides to the business: eBlaze Services, which buys old phones from businesses and sells them new ones. The other business is CellTradeIn.com, which offers consumers cash for current or older phones, which could help them trade up to newer technology, said Haller, co-owner and president.

“We've been gradually expanding,” he added.

Companies can provide the phone models and quantity they're looking to unload. Then eBlaze provides a quote and a free shipping label. The company said it sends the payment in 72 hours via bankwire, company check or PayPal. When phones are received, they're cleared of all information and recycled. A similar process is done for consumers at CellTradeIn.com.

“You can expect that many current iPhone users will be looking for a quick way to get rid of their old phone to get some cash to put toward the new one,” Wells, who now lives in Texas, said in an email.

In addition, those wishing to get rid of older or broken electronics may consider Target (www.target.com), which partners with NextWorth (www.NextWorth.com). The department store launched a program in late 2010 and has since expanded it to most locations where consumers can trade-in their electronics. This includes phones, iPads, Nintendo DS systems and other items.

Customers can visit the Target Mobile kiosk in the electronics department. The value of the item then is provided on a Target gift card, the company said through a spokeswoman.

To find a location by you, see www.Target.NextWorth.com/stores.

Surfing: The AT&T Smart Wi-Fi app (www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf_2GhaWyaM) aims to take the guesswork out of connecting to hot spots and help users find and establish Wi-Fi connections and conserve battery life. AT&T Smart Wi-Fi is available for free for select AT&T Android Smartphone customers with operating systems 2.1 and above in the Android Market (https://market.android.com/details?id=com. att. android. attsmartwifi). AT&T has its Midwest headquarters in Hoffman Estates.

Ÿ Galleria Retail Technology Solutions in Chicago, which has worked with Walmart, Safeway and others, has relaunched its website at www.galleria-rts.com.

ŸFollow Anna Marie Kukec on LinkedIn and Facebook and as AMKukec on Twitter. Write to her at akukec@dailyherald.com.